Kate Middleton in a New Needle & Thread Dress Is Stunning at the UK-Africa Summit

At Buckingham Palace this evening, Kate Middleton and Prince William are hosting a summit. Kate wore a Needle & Thread dress that's red, sparkly, and utterly gorgeous.

Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Northern Ireland - Day One
(Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo)
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  • At Buckingham Palace this evening, Kate Middleton and Prince William are hosting a summit.
  • Kate wore a Needle & Thread dress that's red, sparkly, and utterly gorgeous. She and William looked calm and relaxed despite crazy family drama.
  • ICYMI, here's the latest on that.

With the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Kate Middleton and Prince William just arrived for the UK-Africa Investment Summit Reception at Buckingham Palace. And it looks like Kate's in a new outfit—and I love it. So sparkly! You can see every angle of the dress here and a couple shots below.

Aurora Gown
Aurora Gown Needle and Thread

The gown is Needle & Thread—I am not sure if any alterations were made, but it looks to be their cherry-red Aurora gown. She loves the color and looks amazing in it, natch. She's also worn Needle & Thread before.

Aurora Mini Dress
Aurora Mini Dress Needle & Thread

She completed the look in matching pointed-heel pumps and a small clutch. It would be easy for the look to be bridesmaid-y, but it looks like they're juuust a shade darker. It's monochromatic without being twee (which is something Kate excels at, TBH).

Interestingly, Sophie Wessex is also at the same event wearing red. Twinsies? Twinsies! Sophie's is simpler and less sparkly, so I doubt it'll be, like, a thing, if you know what I mean.

Kate and William probably won't be discussing the ongoing family drama, but there's a report that the two brothers engaged in "secret" talks that helped repair the rift that had developed between them. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren't there, but despite what tabloids may suggest, this might not be a huge deal. William and Kate look a little stressed but ok! And William just mentioned Harry in his speech, albeit just in passing.

Here's the dress thanks to a shot of it by The Royal Family:

Here's a shot of the gown in motion:

I love it so much.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.